Holstonia

During a visit to the region, a number of years ago, my good friend and traveling companion, David Fuerst, suggested that we need a name for the region. I chose “Holstonia.”

Greater Holstonia lies in the Valley and
Ridge province of the Appalachian mountain
chain straddling the states of Virginia and
Tennessee. Holstonia's SW-NE orientation
follows the watershed of the Holston River
and its forks and reflects the topography of
the region.

Holstonia's axis is modern day Interstate
Highway 81, which today, as it has been for
millennia, remains a great trading route.

Holstonia in Virginia is
centered in the counties of Smyth
and Washington. Across the
Tennessee line, Holstonia extends
most clearly into Hawkins and
Sullivan Counties and the city of
Kingsport.

Narrowly defined, Holstonia in
Virginia is the watersheds of the forks
of the Holton Rivers shown in gray.
If Holstonia has a capital city,
Saltville can make the best claim to be
it.